Prep Girls Soccer Playoffs: Serrano looking for second title in school history

Thursday

Mar 6, 2014 at 8:39 PMMar 7, 2014 at 9:04 AM

By MARK A. PEINADO, STAFF WRITER

It's been a decade since the Serrano girls soccer team has played for a CIF-Southern Section championship.

But on Tuesday afternoon against Lancaster, Gina Slocumb scored on a header in the 98th minute to send the Diamondbacks to Friday's Division 4 title match against South Torrance at Warren High School in Downey.

The match is slated to start at 7:30 p.m. and Serrano is the designated home team.

"I am so happy," Serrano goalie Janelle Flores said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us, especially for the seniors. It's our last year, so let's go out with a bang. We're going to go in there and give it our all."

The Diamondbacks (23-4-4) have reached the title match with a strong defensive presence from Paige Smith, McKenna Gleason, Lacy Slocumb, Kallie Lynch and Flores.

In their last 16 matches, the D'backs have allowed just one goal and they've shut out 14 straight opponents. Oak Hills was the last team to score a goal on them in a 2-1 Serrano win on Jan. 8. The D'backs' last loss was 4-1 to Claremont in the San Gorgonio Tournament on Dec. 28.

For the first three rounds, Kellsie Gleason provided the scoring for Serrano. She scored six of the team's seven goals, including four in the first round against Canyon Springs.

But in the semifinals, Lancaster had three players marking the Auburn-bound senior. Yet, Gleason still managed to make life difficult for the Lancaster defense. She was able to make a few runs down the middle and get off some nice shot attempts.

Serrano co-coach Laura Antle said on Tuesday that she knew someone else had to step up if the D'backs were going to advance.

"At halftime we talked about it, the best option isn't going to be Kellsie," Antle said. "She has three people on her, you shoot the ball. Kellsie wasn't the best option. Sure, she's a stud and she's going to do with it what she can, but when you have three on her it's a little bit tough. We'll work on our shooting at practice. Luckily we're still practicing. We have to place the ball. Those opportunities are going to be few and far between come Friday."

Now the D'backs prepare for their last test of the season.

The Spartans (21-5-3) got to the finals with a 2-0 win over Marymount. They tied for first place with Torrance in the Pioneer League. The league rivals split their two matches with each winning 2-1, while Serrano slipped past Torrance 1-0 in the quarterfinals.

"They are going to be a handful," Serrano co-coach Dave Molina said. "It's going to be a war, there's no question. That's how it should be. That's what this is all about."

Serrano and South Torrance both also played North Torrance. The D'backs beat the Saxons 4-0, while the Spartans handed them two losses, 2-0 and 1-0.

South Torrance was in the Div. 5 finals in 2010, losing 2-0 to Notre Dame Academy. But the previous year, the Spartans defeated Valley Christian/Cerritos 1-0 in overtime for the Div. 5 title.

The D'backs are seeking their second CIF-SS title. The first one came in 2004 when they tied Santa Ynez 1-1 for a co-championship. Championship matches can no longer end in ties, instead going to overtime and, if need be, penalty kicks.

Molina said he had a feeling this team could go deep into the playoffs and possibly reach the finals. But he said he kept his thoughts to himself until Tuesday.

"I was confident that we would do well," Molina said. "At the beginning of the season, I felt that we had the ability to make a deep run. That was inside me and not really talked about much."

And now, Serrano needs one more victory to cap off an unbelievable season.

"We go step by step. We have goals written down," Gina Slocumb said. "The fifth step is the final step. Definitely the goal is to win."

Mark A. Peinado can be reached at mpeinado@vvdailypress.com or at 760-951-6274.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.